Statue of Tvardovsky and Terkin, Bronze monument in Victory Square, Smolensk, Russia.

The Statue of Tvardovsky and Terkin is a bronze monument in Smolensk showing the poet Aleksandr Tvardovsky and his fictional soldier Vasily Terkin seated on a rough bronze log. Tvardovsky, in a belted military tunic and tall boots, holds a small square satchel and reaches toward Terkin, who wears a high-collared uniform and raises one hand while an accordion rests at his side. Lines from the poem are carved on the pedestal.

The monument was unveiled in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory at the end of World War II. It was funded through public donations from citizens who wished to preserve this wartime memory.

The monument shows the bond between the poet and his creation Terkin, who became a symbol of Soviet resilience during wartime. The two figures sit together as if sharing the story that shaped their shared legacy.

The monument stands on Victory Square in central Smolensk and is easy to find as a well-known meeting spot in the city. It is accessible year-round and can be viewed from outside without any special arrangements needed.

The sculpture makes a rare artistic choice by depicting a real writer alongside his invented character rather than honoring only one of them. Notably, Terkin holds an accordion in his hands, an instrument that holds significance in the poet's works.